National Leaders of Education (NLEs) are those who, along with colleagues at their schools, work alongside others in the most challenging of circumstances. An NLE needs to be an outstanding head teacher, who, in conjunction with their staff at designated National Support Schools (NSS), use their skills and experience to support schools which are often facing very challenging circumstances.

In order to have the experience and skills this entails, NLEs must be an outstanding serving head teacher responsible for a school that meets the NSS criteria. Both they and their school must demonstrate previous evidence of supporting under-performing schools and the ability to make a difference in diverse and complex situations.

In addition to leading their own schools, NLEs work to increase the leadership capacity of other schools to help raise standards.

Brooke Weston Teaching School Alliance currently has one NLE: